(Read 1 Sam. 17:40-58, 18:1-4.)
NOTICE here the way David wrought deliverance for Israel. He gathered from the brook five smooth stones. What good could they be against such a giant? I think when Saul saw him do that, he regarded it as folly. And do you know what some people in our day have said? “The story of the cross I cannot accept. I do not believe that I can be saved by the dying agonies and the atoning sufferings of a Man upon that Cree. It seems folly to me.” Such speakers have been already pointed out, for the apostle Paul says, “The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:1818For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)). I know that I seem to some of you, in this day of incredulity and infidelity, to be indeed foolish, but I am quite prepared to be counted a fool for Christ’s sake. But please observe that what you count “foolishness” is “salvation” to me. Is not that strange? Who is the wise man today―the man of faith, or the skeptic? The man of faith, for the preaching of Christ is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16); 1 Cor. 1:2121For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21)). That is the meaning of the fine smooth stones; what looked the essence of feebleness was the power of God.
The giant curses David, and treats him with disdain. The latter goes out with only stone and sling, and what happens? He slings that stone, and it enters the giant’s forehead. All thought it was impossible. Yes; but the fact is this, what is impossible with man is possible with God. That which seems weakness with man is power with God. What could be weaker than a stripling and a stone? I can tell you of something weaker. A babe lying in a manger. I read, “And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:1212And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. (Luke 2:12)). There are, two signs God gives us in Scripture. A babe lying in a manger. That was the sign given to the shepherds. But there is yet another deeper sign of weakness. Do you know what it is? A dead man, The Lord Jesus said: “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish (R.V.), so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the belly of the earth” (Matt. 12:39, 4039But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:39‑40)).
The expression of absolute weakness is a man in death. Do you know how I am saved? Through a Man in death. He was rejected by everybody, betrayed by a false friend, and denied by a true one, forsaken by everybody, and at length forsaken by God, and on the cross “crucified through weakness” (2 Cor. 13:44For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. (2 Corinthians 13:4)). But that cross is God’s power unto salvation. There is nothing will meet and deliver man but the cross. It is God’s way of meeting man where he is, a sinner in his sins. “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor. 1:2525Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:25)).
When the giant fell, what was the next thing? “David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith” (vs. 51). I think Jonathan took a good long breath when he saw the giant’s head come off. I see five points in Jonathan’s history. When David came into the camp he was trembling, he was miserable. When he saw David go forth, for he had heard what David had said, he was hopeful. I hope he will conquer him, said he; and you say, I hope Christ has met my case. When the giant’s head came off, he could well say, Thank God it is all done, I am clear of that enemy now. He was delivered. Next he was enriched, and lastly he became devoted.
It is a great thing to see that by Christ’s death on the cross the power of Satan was broken. To put Christ on that cross was the most foolish thing the devil ever did. He got Judas to sell Him for thirty pieces of silver. (Do not you spend eternity in hell with Judas.) And he got Herod to taunt Him, and then he got Pilate to condemn Him. (I should not like to spend eternity with Judas, Pilate, and Herod. My mind is made up. I am going to spend eternity with Jesus. You do the same. That is my advice.) Then the Romans nailed Him to a tree, and the devil said, I have got rid of Him now. What a profound mistake! He did not know that by His death He was going to meet the claims of God on man, and take up the whole question of man’s sin in His death, and, blessed be His name, He did it. And what is the next thing? A risen Saviour, an empty tomb, and then a rolled-away stone. The stone was not rolled away to let the Saviour out. No, no; but to let you and me look in, and see the proofs of His victory over death and Satan. Thereafter the Lord went up on high triumphant.
What must Satan have then said? “The most foolish thing I ever did was to put that Man on the cross.” His death has saved millions. If you are wise you will say, By the gracce of God I will have Him tonight as my own. You may well have Him, boast in Him, and yield all to Him, for He is worthy.
We have already seen that David cut off the giant’s head with his own sword. What does that teach us?
Do you know the sword that Satan he/ds over a sinner’s head? Death. He says to you when you are young, “There is plenty of time.” When you are middle-aged he will say, “You must work hard and make money now.” When you are old he will say to you: “You have missed your opportunity of salvation. It is too late.” Then he will hold over your head the solemn fact that you have been a sinner, and that the wages of sin is death. His witness is quite true, but he will not tell you the gospel. If you are wise you will, where you are, get hold of this, that a Man, on whom death had no claim, has gone into death, that He has come up out of the grave, triumphant over Satan, and that He has left unsettled no question as to the sins of those who trust in Him. There was no sin on Him when He went oil the cross. Then “the sins of many” were laid on Him while on the cross, but there was no sin on Him when He came down from the cross. There He atoned for and put them all away, and as a consequence He has gone into death and annulled it.
Did you ever ponder this verse? “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:1414Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14)). Do you know why you and I die? Because we are the children of a fallen man. Do you know why Christ became a Man? That He might die. Death had no claim on Him, for “he did no sin” (1 Pet. 2:2222Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (1 Peter 2:22)). He “knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)), and “in him is no sin” (1 John 3:55And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (1 John 3:5)). As to this, testimony is abundant from every side, divine, satanic, and human. God searched Him and found “nothing” in Him (Psa. 17:33Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. (Psalm 17:3)). He Himself said, “The prince of this world (Satan) cometh, and hath nothing in me” (John 14:3030Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. (John 14:30)). Then the dying thief said, “This Man hath done nothing amiss” (Luke 23:4141And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. (Luke 23:41)). He was absolutely perfect.
Having met Satan in the stronghold of death―the very citadel of the king of terrors―He has annulled his power and risen from the dead. I think I can understand now why He says to John, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Rev. 1:1818I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:18)). He, so to speak, says to John,” I have been down exactly where you were, I have gone into the death you ought to have died, I have met the one who had the power of death in my passage through death, I have plucked the keys from his girdle, and wrenched the scepter from his hand; he is a defeated foe, and I am a risen, victorious Saviour.” That is the One I know.
I repeat that I believe Jonathan drew a good long breath when he saw the giant’s head roll off, and the sense of deliverance entered his bosom. Nor am I at all surprised to read, “And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted” (vs. 52). I sometimes wonder how people when they hear and’ get hold of God’s delivering gospel do not shout, “Hallelujah, I am saved tonight.” I should rejoice to hear you say it. You get the enjoyed sense of the deliverance of Christ, and it will mightily move you. The fact is, that people are very proper nowadays, and are little moved by the gospel. They forget that a great many are going into hell with the utmost propriety. They will be terribly moved when they stand before the great white throne. The men of Israel and Judah were moved. They spoiled the tents of the Philistines, and they were enriched. Among them Jonathan was enriched. At first anxious, then hopeful, then delivered, now he is enriched, and in the next chapter we notice that he becomes devoted to David, and surrenders all to him.
David comes back to the camp with the giant’s sword in one hand, and his head in the other. And now I read, “And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (ch. 18:1). Yes, he sees, and owns his deliverer. And, my dear friend, when you see the beauty of Jesus, the grace of Jesus, and the value of the blood of Jesus, if you see that by His death He has delivered you and saved you from Satan’s power, and that in His clearance of death and judgment the Christian now stands in association with Him, your heart will be captivated. He said to His own, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:1919Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. (John 14:19)). He said to Mary, after He was risen from the dead, “Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and your God” (John 20:1717Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)). He associates us with Himself in life, favor, and relationship before God. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)), is the Spirit’s record. I do not wonder that Jonathan’s heart was captivated by David, and I hope yours too is won for Jesus fully.
The next thing we read is this, “And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle” (18:4). I think it produced great consternation that day, when the heir to Israel’s throne was seen to step out to this simple shepherd lad, take off his royal garments and give them, with his weapons, to David. There is the most perfect surrender. He says, “My heart is yours, David, and my all is yours.”
My friend, tell me, do you know anything like that in your soul’s history? Surrender your all to Christ. It is easily done when a man’s heart has been captured. Friend, I do not want your head or your money, but I want your heart, and your heart for Christ. He wants your heart. Do you not feel inclined to yield your heart to Christ now? Imitate Jonathan. It was a fine start he made. May you be devoted to Jesus from this hour forth.
W. T. P. W.